Chahal’s tactical masterclass: How subtle variations and strategic pace vs KKR shifted the game for Punjab Kings?

“We are five games in, and for us to win the IPL, we are going to need Yuzvendra Chahal.”

This clear statement from Punjab Kings assistant coach James Hopes set the tone ahead of the team’s match against Kolkata Knight Riders. Up to that point, Chahal had mostly bowled in the latter half of the innings, limiting his ability to make an early impact. With the team relying heavily on pace, Hopes stressed the need to incorporate more spin into the attack and suggested using Chahal earlier in the innings.

“We need to get Yuzi into the tournament a little bit; he’s being used in a lot of different roles at a lot of different times,” Hopes said. “I think we need to find a way to get more spin into our bowling attack, and hopefully, we see that over the next few games.”

A tactical shift

Defending just 111 runs, Punjab Kings needed something special. Chahal was introduced in the eighth over and captain Shreyas Iyer immediately sought to capitalise on the opportunity by asking Chahal if he wanted a slip in place, signalling a desire to attack with spin.

At 60 for 2, with Ajinkya Rahane and Angkrish Raghuvanshi set, Chahal’s intervention was pivotal. His fourth ball saw Rahane miss a sweep and get dismissed leg before, and his next over brought a sharp breakthrough as Raghuvanshi edged to backward point. Chahal’s impact didn’t stop there: he bamboozled Rinku Singh with a delivery that drifted away before cutting back in, leaving him stumped. Then, in the very next delivery, Ramandeep Singh top-edged a paddle shot, with Iyer sprinting to take a brilliant catch.

Chahal’s performance wasn’t just about getting wickets. His ability to read the conditions and adjust his game made all the difference. The pitch wasn’t flat; it held up, which allowed Chahal to use his experience to toss up deliveries. His average speed on the day was 81 km/h, slower than his usual 90 km/h, which worked to his advantage in the middle overs.

“I always have the mindset of how to get the batters out; I varied my pace, and if they have to hit, they will have to make an effort,” Chahal said after his impressive figures of four for 28, which earned him the Player of the Match award.

Subtle yet effective variations

Interestingly, Chahal didn’t rely on extravagant variations. All 24 of his deliveries were leg spinners, but he varied his pace and kept tinkering with line and length. “The way he bowled today, bowling wider, slower balls, and mixing his pace — this is what experience does to a bowler, and he showed that today,” said Nehal Wadhera after the match.

A timely performance

Chahal’s performance came at just the right time for Punjab Kings. His ability to adjust to the pitch conditions and bowl with intent in the middle overs provided the team with the breakthrough it desperately needed. Much like Gandalf’s famous quote from J.R.R. Tolkien’s book The Lord of the Rings, “A wizard is never late nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to,” Chahal’s arrival in the tournament had been anticipated, and on this occasion, he delivered precisely when it mattered most.